Hayward: Fired barber attacks former co-worker, police say

HAYWARD -- A disgruntled barber attempted to attack a co-worker with a knife Wednesday -- just one day after he was terminated -- and now faces felony assault and weapons charges, police say.

Hayward resident Roberto Carlos Gonzalez, 24, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and for brandishing a weapon in a threatening manner, Sgt. Ken Forkus said.

Officers were dispatched at 5:04 p.m. to Gladys Hair Design on the 500 block of Tennyson Road for a report of a man who had tried to cut another person with a knife.

Arriving officers found a group of employees holding the man down on the ground, Forkus said.

Police learn the man had been fired Tuesday and that he returned to work on Wednesday and followed a new employee out of the barber shop.

Gonzalez, who held a pocket knife in his right hand, swung the knife at the male victim, Forkus said, but another employee who saw the attack in motion yelled and the victim was able to move and avoid being stabbed.

Gonzalez then reportedly picked up a chair and flung it at the victim causing a shoulder injury.

The staff of the salon held the suspect down until police arrived, arrested him and transported him to the Santa Rita Jail, where he was being held on $35,000 bail Thursday.